Higher education is getting more expensive and the list of solutions getting shorter. It's not that we can't find solutions but it is that there is no compromising in the culture battles that rage in universities. Ground campuses are great and often provide an exceptional educational experience but also come with a higher price tag and are not necessarily the most diverse due to their restrictive selectivity. Many universities are experiencing a decline in enrollment with expenses rising. Some are closing.
It doesn't need to be that way...
Online education has risen to fill the gap for many Americans who do not come from wealthier families and cater to a more diverse population that is more reflective of a modern society. Some of these programs do great at measuring learning while some (ground and online) avoid metrics of learning but yet claim to be superior based on price. We should expect a Higher Ed. reckoning someday where the perception and reality of both come into line.
Costs at some colleges nearing $100,000 per year, but many families pay a lot less
Much of it isn't about the modality but more about the politics of it all. To me, one can get their education by picking up a library card and sitting under a tree with skilled people. The professors of old were called philosophers. However, in today's world, we need more specialized advanced industry knowledge to ensure that we can put such skills learned in college (the tree) to good use in the market to help society.
There is no right or wrong other than cost, access, and quality. No one owns the quality debate unless they measure their learning in an objective way and then compare that to the price students pay, access, and availability of learned knowledge to ensure they are raising society's competitiveness. Human capital development requires diverse and easy access to update skills in a technologically advancing society where every 10 years the market is radically different. That is going to be hard if you have to go to campus.
Words in the wind blew away as quickly as uttered...
Higher Education and Human Capital Development
Beyond the lack of objective measurements on quality, rising cost, and lower enrollment one could make an argument on research. Research is an important part of encouraging higher innovation in the nation. However, this is not an online or offline argument. I have seen innovation come from industry, universities, and entrepreneurs. Newton just got hit in the head with an apple and he didn't have to pay $100K for a lump and a new idea.
The online world can take advantage of practitioner knowledge mixed with academic knowledge to create applied research. Not all ground universities are research schools and still some are really good at it. There is nothing that stops ground or online from conducting research and I encourage professors to start doing both when and where they can. Making an exception for the type of research.
I have found grants for one of the local fire departments and have conducted research, perhaps even groundbreaking in someways, (as well as on my own), and let me say its not the modality (except the physical sciences) that stops that from happening (My issue is time and resources). I have been browsing this database and others lately and am actively looking for grants not only for local first responders, and my community but also to advance higher education globally where it is struggling to adapt to new market realities (At least im thinking about it if necessary). Government Grants. (If you have a few good ones send them my way.)
To me, just like one can come up with a great idea under an apple tree there is no reason without some small changes on both sides of the argument for ground and online education to complement each other. Mater of fact, they can hedge each others weaknesses and enhance each other's strengths. Apple to mapple they both can be sweet or bitter.
We can rejuvenate our nation's higher education place in the world if we want...unless we don't want them too for cultural factors or ensuring someone doesn't move the cheese. Just saying it takes a little critical thinking to understand the benefits and detractors of both while recognizing their inherent value to students and society....assuming they are the ultimate stakeholders (Sometimes I wonder? 🤔).
Whoops the wind blew away the words again. Getting windy out here. 😬💨
No comments:
Post a Comment